Overview
Synopsis
Hanna Glawari, recently widowed multi-millionairess, and citizen of Pontevedro, has suitors vying for her hand from every angle. It seems the only eligible bachelor that is not interested in her is Count Danilo Danilowitsch. After his family called off their engagement years before, because she was too poor, she had hoped that her wealth might now bring them together. How can she capture the heart of this man who seems only interested in drinking champagne and watching the girls at Maxim’s bar?
Filled with romantic trysts, lively dance numbers, and the famous ‘Song of Vilja’, it is no surprise that Lehár’s operetta Die lustige Witwe remains one of the most popular in the operatic canon today.
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Context
It might be surprising to know that one of the most popular operetta’s for today’s audiences had to fight for its first production against several naysayers. Librettists Viktor Leo and Leo Stein put together the German libretto for the operetta after seeing a production of Henri Meilhac’s L'attaché d'ambassade (The Embassy Attaché) and originally engaged Richard Heuberger as composer. Franz Lehár was their second choice but, even when the score was nearly complete, the Theater an der Wien
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Act One - A Salon in the Pontevedrian Embassy
Baron Zeta is holding grand festivities to mark the birthday of the Prince of Pontevedro, in raucous choruses (‘Verehrteste Damen und Herren’), covering up his concerns about the country’s recent bankruptcy. While the Baron is distracted, Camille takes the opportunity to confess his love to the Baron’s wife, Valencienne, by writing those three little words on her fan. Valencienne finds a moment alone with Camille to present him with an idea
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Character Portrayals
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Songs
Below is a breakdown of the musical numbers in this operetta. As with all operetta, these are accompanied with dialogue between the numbers, which is not specified below, and often changes between productions.
Act One - In a Salon of the Pontevedrian Embassy
No. 1 Introduction ‘Verehrteste Damen und Herren’ - Valencienne, Sylviane, Olga, Praškowia, Camille, St. Brioche, Zeta, Cascada, Kromow, Chorus
No.2 Duet ‘So kommen Sie’ - Valencienne, Camille
No. 3 Entrance of Hanna and Ensemble ‘Bitte, meine Herren’ and Mazurka ‘Hab’ in Paris mich noch nicht ganz’ - Hanna, St. Brioche, Cascasa, Men’s Chorus
No. 4 Auftrittslied ‘O Vaterland’ - Danilo
No. 5 Duet (The Magic of Domesticity) ‘Ja, was - ein trautes Zimmerlien’ - Valencienne, Camille
No. 6 Finale I ‘Damenwahl’ - Hanna, Valencienne, Danilo, Camille, St. Brioche, Cascada, Chorus
Act Two - A Day later, in the Palace of Hanna Glawari
No. 7 Introduction, Dance ‘Ich bitte, hier jetzt zu verweilen’ and
Song of Vilja (The song of the wood-maiden) 'Es lebt eine Vilja'- Hanna, Chorus
No. 8 Duet (Song of the foolish rider) ‘Heia, Mädel, aufgeschaut’ - Hanna, Danilo
No. 9 March-Septett ‘Wie die Wieber man behnadelt’ - Danilo, Zeta, St. Brioche, Cascada, Kromow, Bogdanowitsch, Pritschitsch
No. 10 Game Scene and Dance Duet - Hanna, Danilo
No. 11 Duet 'Mein Freund, Vernunft’ and Romance ‘Wie eine Rosenknospe’ - Valencienne, Camille
No. 12 Finale II ‘Ha! Ha! Wir fragen’ - Hanna, Valencienne, Sylviane, Olga, Praškowia, Danilo, Camille, Zeta, Bogdanowitsch, Kromow, Pritschitsch, Njegus, Chorus
No. 12a Entr’akt (Song of Vilja)
Act Three - In Hanna Glawari’s Palace
No. 12b Zwischenspiel
No. 13 Dance Scene
No. 14 Grisette’s Song ‘Ja, wir sind es, die Grisetten’ - Valencienne, Lolo, Dodo, Jou-Jou, Frou-Frou, Clo-Clo, Margot (Grisettes), Danilo, Zeta, Bogdanowitsch, Pritschitsch, Kromow, Chorus
No. 15 Duet ‘Lippen schweigen’ - Hanna, Danilo
No. 16 Final Scene ‘Ja, das Studium der Weiber’ - Tutti
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.